The WZB is rated as one of the world's top research institutions in the field of social sciences
In its statement published yesterday, the Senate of the Leibniz Association attests to the excellent scientific achievements of the WZB Berlin Social Science Center and recommends continued funding by the federal and state governments.
The WZB is "one of the world's top research institutions in its domain," according to the Senate's statement, which is based on the evaluation report of a group of external experts. Thanks to its extensive expertise in all relevant disciplines for researching the social, economic, legal, and political changes occurring in modern societies, the WZB makes a significant contribution—both in terms of scientific findings and with regard to knowledge transfer to political decision-makers and society as a whole.
The report states the WZB has had a significant influence on social policy discussions in Germany and beyond in recent years. In addition, it is a key player in the field of social research and exceptionally well connected within the research landscape. Among other achievements, the institute has played a key role in establishing scientific institutions such as the Weizenbaum Institute, and it was a co-founder of the Berlin Research 50 (BR50) network of non-university research institutions in the capital. Through its impressive number of joint professorships, it also maintains close ties to various universities, particularly in Berlin.
"The results of the evaluation confirm the high quality of our research and the importance of our exchange with society. It is recognition of the dedicated work of all our employees and, at the same time, an incentive to continue along this path and further expand our contribution to a knowledge-based future," says WZB President Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln at the presentation of the evaluation results. "The interdisciplinary nature of the WZB is more important than ever in view of the major social challenges we face, and the impulses provided by the evaluation will help us to make even greater use of it in the future."
Founded in 1969, the WZB Berlin Social Science Center is a member of the Leibniz Association and conducts problem-oriented basic research on socially relevant topics such as democracy and political participation, work, education and social inequality, migration, markets and economic behavior, and digitalization and society. The non-university research institute has an interdisciplinary focus and combines sociology, political science, economics, law, and other disciplines. The WZB's goal is to analyze social developments and provide impulses for politics and the public sphere—in other words, to combine excellent research with engagement with society.
The evaluations by the Leibniz Association are conducted by independent experts every seven years. Based on their assessment, the Leibniz Association Senate adopts a science policy statement. The statement on the WZB can be found here.